Chapter 13: XII

XII Ten days later Adam bought some flowers at the corner of Wigmore Street and went to call on Miss Runcible at her nursing home. He was shown first into the matron’s room. She had numerous photographs in silver frames and a very nasty fox terrier. She smoked a cigarette in a greedy way, making slight sucking noises. “Just taking a moment off in my den,” she explained. “Down, Spot, down. But I can see you’re fond of dogs,” she added, as Adam gave Spot a halfhearted pat on the head. “So yo…